The element silicon does not exist in nature in its pure state, but
combines with 2 molecules of
water to form silica. Next to oxygen, silicon is the most abundant
element in the earth's crust,
with 60% of rocks containing silica. The erosion of rocks spreads
silica and silica-mineral
complexes into the soil, streams and ground water. When silica combines
with 2 molecules of
water, it becomes silicic acid, a weak acid which exists in its free
state below pH9.0. Silicic
acid and mineral silicates are the active forms of silica and silicon
in both plants and animals. In
plants, silicic acid is absorbed from the moist soil and after further
processing, performs
important functions in the plants, including protection against
bacteria, insects and snails. Silicic acid protects the plant from
toxicity of excess metals in the soil, such as iron and
manganese.

Herbivorous animals and men obtain silicic acid from plants and from
fresh unprocessed water. Addition of aluminum to water during water
treatment prior to consumption by animals and
men, removes silicic acid from water by binding aluminum to silicic
acid, making it unavailable
for absorption by the intestinal tract. Processing of foodstuff from
plants origin decreases
markedly the amount of silica. For example, Barbados brown sugar
contains 750 parts per
million (PPM) silicon, compared to 2 PPM in refined sugar.

Some 30 years ago, the essentiality of the element silicon, in the
form of bioactive and
bioavailable mineral silicates was demonstrated in higher animals,
based on research performed
by Edith M. Carlisle and Klaus Schwartz from U.C.L.A. Bioactive
silicates participated in the
normal metabolism of higher animals, and are essential for normal
growth, bone formation, and
production of connective tissue. The highest silicon concentrations
occur in connective tissues,
such as the aorta, the trachea, the tendons and also the skin. Aging
causes a marked drop in
silicon content of the aorta and the skin only, not in silicon contents
of other tissues examined, In laboratory animals, silicates protect the
aorta from atheromatous lesions induced by a high fat
diet. In man, the silicon content of the aorta was highest in normal
aortas, and decreased with
increased atheromatous lesions of the aorta.

The protein collagen represents at least one third of the total
protein content of the human body. Silicic acid and silicates increase
the production of collagen by several mechanisms, one of
which is the stimulation of an enzyme involved in the conversion of
procollagen to collagen.

An association between silicon deficiency and Alzheimer disease (AD)
was proposed by Carlisie
in 1987. In AD patients, high brain aluminum levels in certain brain
regions has been previously
reported, Using rats as experimental animals, Carlisle demonstrated a
protective role of silicates
against brain toxicity of aluminum. She also observed that aluminum
depletes brain silicon
levels mainly in areas involved in AD.

AD occurs in 5% of individuals over 70 years old and is twice as
common in women as in men.

Serum silicic acid is lower in post-menopausal women than
pre-menopausal women. The effect
of castration in laboratory animals on serum silicic acid showed that
in female rats, castration
decreases serum silicic acid by one half, whereas no effect was
observed in male rats. This
could explain the higher preponderance of AD in women than in men. The
decrease incidence of
AD in post-menopausal on estrogen therapy could be due to increased
silicic acid and silicates in
the brain. Carlisis proposed that silicon performs an essential role in
brain metabolism; and that
aluminum interferes with the action of silicon by lowering brain
silicon levels.

So far, these findings have not been translated into practical
recommendations for human health. The only balance study published on
silicon showed that men on 2 different diets, namely a low
fiber and a high fiber diet, were all in negative balances after 26
days on those diets. Negative
balance means they were losing bioactive silicon, that is silicic acid
and silicates while on these
diets The 24hr. Urine silicon excretion levels in human subjects ranged
from 5 to 30 mg,
equivalent roughly to 10 to 60 mg of bioavailable silica.

II. FORMULATION OF COGIMAX

Cogimax is a specially formulated silica-mineral complex containing
50 mg of measured silica
per tablet. The silica-mineral complex is coated with a non-ionic
surfactant in order to
minimize interaction between the silica-mineral complex and compounds
in the intestinal tract
capable of interfering with the absorption of silicic acid and mineral
silicates, Citric acid is
added to increase the intestinal release of silicic acid and silicates
from the silica-mineral
complex.

III. SUGGESTED USE

The recommended daily amount is one tablet with a glass of water in the morning.
However, more than one tablet may be ingested upon recommendation of a health
care practitioner. For best results, ingest Cogimax tablets
with a glass of water on an empty stomach. Consume at least 2 quarts of water
a day. Bioactive silicates increase the hydration of extracellular substances,
and therefore adequate intake of water is required to replenish the extracellularinterstitial
fluid.